This year saw a flurry of games that attempted to combine MOBA gameplay mechanics with the elements of other genres, like shooters. The rising popularity of Hi-Rez Studio’s SMITE provides testimony to the popularity of these genre fusions, as does widespread interest in Blizzard’s upcoming shooter with light MOBA elements, Overwatch. Motiga’s free-to-play Shooter-MOBA hybrid, Gigantic, stands out from the rest of the pack with a distinctive cel-shaded visual style and a knack for simple, yet complex gameplay. Over the course of the year, Gigantic moved from an alpha stage to a closed beta, and its playerbase has expanded greatly. The Bellevue, Washington-based studio announced their future plans for Gigantic in an official blog post last week.
To get a taste of Gigantic’s gameplay, check out the video below:
Motiga began their blog post by stating that their vision for the game has not wavered.
Gigantic is a game of teamwork and player skill, of dynamic action and thoughtful strategy, of fierce combat and joyful movement. At a basic level, it’s a shooter MOBA designed to let gamers of different backgrounds play together, while at the high end, it’s intended to hold up to serious competitive play.
They acknowledge that their endeavor is a risk in today’s gaming market, but one that they’re willing to take.
Motiga then apologized for delaying the game’s Xbox One and Windows 10 2015 releases to 2016 due to the game not being as far along as they had planned.
Early next year, Motiga plans to release a closed beta build on the aforementioned platforms, one larger than ever before. This new beta will return the partying function to Gigantic, which will allow players to form pre-made groups for matchmaking. In addition, the build will mark Gigantic as a Universal Windows Application, meaning players will be able to enjoy the game on any device that supports Windows 10.
Moreover, the upcoming beta will include a slew of additions and improvements to the game. New matchmaking algorithms will more accurately pair players up with opponents on their skill level, and players will be able to progress their accounts to unlock rewards. The beta will also introduce a new map called Sanctum Falls (formerly known as MistForge), a new playable hero, a new summonable creature (which players use to aid their entire team in combat), and both visual and gameplay tweaks to Gurren, the Naga Guardian.
Motiga will also be adjusting how players acquire Power, which is used to fuel abilities. They will also be improving the overall movement experience to make gameplay more fluid, which will entail tweaks to collision detection in maps and reduced stamina penalties for running and jumping.
The team promises another map, Siren’s Strand, along with other new heroes and summons as the 2016 year progresses. Of special note is the return of Roland, the shotgun-toting hero who specializes in skill shots and explosions.
Ultimately, Motiga aims to improve the overall feel of Gigantic with changes to camera shaking, impact sounds, and the UI. The team also plans to implement social features like Guilds, Leagues, Tournaments, and Spectator mode, but is currently focusing on core gameplay issues before addressing these features. Lastly, the giant NPCs called Guardians will be receiving major overhauls to make them more involved in matches, such as interacting with the environment and players.
Motiga acknowledges the challenges that lay in store for Gigantic’s future success, but they are eager to tackle any problems that arise with help from their avid playerbase. If you are interested in signing up for the closed beta, you can do so by visiting this page.